Kevin Steil of Airship Ambassador, a shiny new steampunk blog, has an interesting discussion of the “punk” in “Steampunk,” defining it as a “reaction, rebellion and resolution” against contemporary society. Here’s my favorite part:

“Steampunks will find their reaction, rebellion and resolution spanning the spectrum of motivational reasons. Perhaps it’s the desire to learn more, do more and be more, or the need to break free of internal or external imposed limitations, or an inherent revulsion at the excess materialism clothed in a complete lack of style in a commerce-driven society.

Our group resolutions, our common acts of rebellion, take the form of corsets and top hats, of artisanship and intellectualism, of re-creation and re-imagining.”